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Millions of tons of grain can not be exported, the war in Ukraine has massive consequences for food security worldwide. The G7 industrialized nations want to free Russia from blocking ports in Ukraine.
25 million tons of grain are currently blocked in Ukrainian ports, mainly in Odessa, said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the opening of the (12.05) three-day consultations of the G7 Foreign Ministers in Weissenhaus on the Baltic Sea. These cereals are urgently needed, mainly in poor countries in Africa and the Middle East. Now the seven richest democracies in the world should not leave these countries in the lurch.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal is to divide the international community with his offensive war. “We as the G7 will oppose this,” Baerbock said. “We are consulting together on how to unblock the Russian-created grain blockade and be able to send Ukrainian grain to the world,” Baerbock said.
Ukraine is one of the most important suppliers of cereals worldwide. According to figures from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 2021, Ukraine ranked third as the exporter of barley and fifth for the export of wheat.
The EU will facilitate transport by land
Shortly before Baerbock’s statement, the EU Commission drew attention to a dangerous situation. Cereals risk blocking the depots needed for the next harvest. Ukraine due to ports blocked by Russia in the Black Sea meanwhile can no longer export as before. That is why the EU Commission will now facilitate transport by land and rail.
Germany currently holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group. Members of this group are the USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan. The Foreign Ministers of these countries Baerbock has invited to the Weissenhaus castle in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. During the consultations that will continue until Saturday (14.05), the focus is mainly on the war.
Putin expects record harvest
Russia, according to President Vladimir Putin, expects record wheat harvest this year. At a government meeting he said at the same time that exports would increase: “According to experts’ estimates – these are of course only temporary estimates – wheat harvests could reach up to 130 million tonnes, including 87 million tonnes of wheat.” According to Putin, this would be a record for wheat. Russia is one of the largest producers of cereals in the world and plays an important role in food in the world./ DW
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